Get Ready for Game Night - Virtual Edition

​​​By ISJL Education Fellow Margo Wagner
 
The last day of religious school each year is usually filled with fun review games and laughter. In particular, friendly trivia competitions excite students and display how much they learned throughout the year. Even during this challenging time of Covid-19, classroom lessons can still end on a high note. Maybe this year, for one day and one day only, religious school can transform into a celebratory game show! This article will showcase a few ways to plan an interactive last day of religious school using games that can easily be played through Zoom or a similar virtual platform. 
 
TriviaMaker Mania
TriviaMaker is a website where contributors design their own trivia questions. It has three game styles: grid style, feud style, and multiple-choice. TriviaMaker includes plenty of fun sound effects and is compatible with screen sharing technology. Making an online account with TriviaMaker is also free! Teachers can learn more by visiting these video resources that orient participants to TriviaMaker and help educators load games using Zoom.
 
Want to Review It? “Kahoot!” It!
“Kahoot!” is a multiple-choice trivia site that engages students in a live competition. After signing up at this link, teachers can script out their own questions regarding a specific Jewish topic or a general theme. During class time, students can connect to the quiz using a mobile device or computer by loading the “Kahoot!” webpage or app and inputting the unique game pin number. Participants will view their progress in the trivia game by following their teacher’s shared screen. Instructors can learn more about “Kahoot!” by navigating to this tutorial.  
 
(Insert Jewish Topic Here) Twenty Questions 
There are many ways to play guessing games over Zoom. The classic game 20 questions, for example, is a great approach for reviewing Biblical characters or Jewish symbolic objects and ideas. Utilizing the chat box, teachers will privately chat with the person who is “it” the name of a Jewish person or item. The rest of the class will then try to figure out who or what they are through deductive reasoning. Educators can adapt games like 20 questions or “Guess Who?” to fit curriculum content, providing a creative means to look back on past lessons and key concepts. 
 
Crossword Puzzle Championship:
Teachers might also consider utilizing a crossword generator and sharing the puzzle over Zoom as a vocabulary-based contest for students. Competitors can work individually or in teams as they try to decipher clues and fill in blank spots with the appropriate terms.
 
These are just a few ideas to organize a memorable virtual last day of religious school. Games are a great tool to demonstrate what students learned throughout the year and provide a pleasant space for classroom bonding.